15. Chapter Fourteen

Despite being worn out from the three times they'd made love the night before, Craig was restless and didn't get much sleep. He hated to think the reason for his unease was leaving Lenora at Dun Ugadale while he traveled to the border. This was what he'd always planned if he took a wife. She would live her life; he would live his.

Lenora had cuddled up next to him all night long, and while she seemed to sleep well, there was a time or two that she whimpered, almost seeming as if she was having a bad dream.

He finally rose, washed, and dressed. The men who were traveling with him would all meet in the great room where they would share a breakfast of bread, cheese and ale before heading to the border.

He strapped his claidheamh mor onto his back, then his bow and quiver over his shoulder. He was ready to leave and was hesitant about waking Lenora. She knew he was leaving early, so she wouldn't be surprised to see him gone. He studied her for a minute then turned and left the room.

The dozen men who were travelling with him had already assembled and were busy eating and drinking. He grabbed some warm bread and cheese and poured himself an ale.

Robin entered the room and sat next to Craig. "I want to see if the Sinclairs are actually stepping over our border or possibly the Gunns."

Craig let out a low whistle. "After our agreement with Gunn you think he might still be raiding our border?"

His brother leaned back in his chair and sipped an ale. "I have a sense that all is not right with David Gunn. I doona trust a mon who beats his womenfolk to get his way. Also, I ken Da never trusted the Gunn's father." He shrugged and took another sip. "'Tis just a feeling. I only tell ye this because I want ye to be on the lookout for any Gunns that show up while ye're riding the border, acting friendly and helpful."

Finn was not there because he was leaving the next day to meet with the Sutherland laird to discuss concerns about their joint border. Craig pushed back from the table and stood, he and his brother clasping forearms.

"All right, men, ‘tis time to ride." He strode from the building and entered the stable. The horses had been readied and the dozen men going with him mounted and waited for Craig to move to the front. With a wave of his arm, they set out of the barmkin, then through the portcullis, over the drawbridge and the path leading them to their destination.

‘Twas a cool day, with Fall stealing away the greenery and turning the leaves to golden orange and yellow. ‘Twas only a two day trip to where they were to settle for a while and keep an eye on the border and whoever shows up to visit.

Normally on his rides to assignments, he'd spend the time thinking about the lass he'd swived the night before and what plan he'd worked out to take care of his assignment the best way.

Today, however, all he could think about was Lorena. Not just their time the night before, her silky skin and womanly curves. Aye, he enjoyed her body probably more than any other woman he'd been with. But ‘twasn't just that. Lorena had begun to crawl under his skin.

When she'd taken care of him when he was sick, she showed another side to herself. Aside from her sharp tongue, there were times when he saw the frightened, unsure of herself lass who used her bluster to keep anyone from knowing the frightened one inside.

He sighed. Now he was thinking like a love-sotted lad. His real concern was how she and Helena would get on while he was gone. ‘Twas almost impossible for Lorena not to have feelings about Helena. Even if Lorena had not cared to marry, it had to hurt to some extent that Robin was willing to suffer insulting her brother by sending him in Robin's place.

Hopefully, he and the men would not be gone long this time. He chuckled to himself. When he first married his wife and they argued so much he was very interested in an assignment far from home and lengthy.

Not so much now.

"MacKay, ye're scowling like ye'd like to run yer dirk across someone's neck. Who has ye scowling so?" Gre'gor MacKay one of the men in his group road up to him, a smirk on his face.

Craig laughed. "No one. I was just doing some heavy thinking."

"About yer lass?"

Craig growled. "Nay. There is no need to think about my wife. She is back at Dun Ugadale taking care of what she is supposed to and I'm here doing of my job."

"I just wondered because when yer brother married Helena, all of a sudden he found numerous excused to stay close to the brooch."

"I am no' my brother." Craig kicked the sides of his horse and rode to the front of the group.

***

Lorena rolled over in the bed, wondering why she was so chilly. She reached for Craig's warm body and met a cool sheet. She sat up and looked around the room. He wasn't there. A quick glance at the patch of sky coming in through the bottom of the window shutter reminded her that since the sun was up Craig had intended to leave at first light. ‘Twas now probably the twelfth light. Sighing, she pushed the bedcovers aside and swung her legs over the side of the bed. ‘Twas no wonder she was chilly. She'd slept all night without her shift. All she needed was Craig's body next to her to stay warm and comfortable all night.

She groaned as she stood, very sore between her legs from all the frantic and passionate love making the night before. She might as well cling to the memory, even if it involved pain because she knew not when the next time she would lay with her husband.

She had never asked him how serious the situation was that he was headed to. Was there a chance he would be injured? Killed, even? She shuddered at the thought. Not that she cared enough for the man to worry about his welfare, ‘twas just that she knew David would push another husband on her if Craig died.

Stop fooling yerself, lass. Ye care about Craig MacKay and would be upset if he left this earth. Admit it!

Pushing that uncomfortable thought aside, she washed, dressed and headed to the great hall. Robin sat at the table with Helena next to him. Although he was speaking to Finn on his other side, his hand covered Helena's on the table.

If Robin had gone through the betrothed marriage with her, would he be as enamored? Would he gaze at her as he did Helena? Hold her hand as he spoke with his brother?

Not likely.

‘Twas time to stop feeling sorry for herself. So what if no man never loved her or even wanted her. She'd always been pushed aside and ignored, or beaten for having an opinion or refusing an order.

"Good morn," she said to all three at the table.

Finn, Robin and Helena greeted her. She took the seat on the other side of Helena. She poured ale into her mug and took two boiled eggs and fried pork from the platter on the table.

"Are ye ready for another day of healing?" Helena asked.

She would love to respond with ‘do I have a choice,' but ‘twas better to behave herself. With Craig not here to defend her if she got into a row with Helena, ‘twas best to simply smile and nod.

"We have a few stops to make in the village. Two lads have come to the castle since I awoke asking for me to visit their bothy. Both have mams who are no' feeling well enough to even get out of their bed. I also have two women to stop by and see. One had a new bairn a couple of weeks ago and the other is due to deliver her bairn soon."

"It does sound like a busy day," Lorena said. Despite no' caring for being told what to do again, the idea of seeing a new bairn was appealing. When she was growing up, she didn't have contact with other children since she spent most of her life hiding from her da.

While her mam was still alive, she told her tales of beautiful unhappy women, held captive in a cold, high room who were rescued by a knight riding a white horse. He took her from the castle and they rode off on his horse to live a happy life. She had spent many a night in her bed wondering if there was a knight on a white horse who would one day rescue her and give her a happy life.

Her knight would be strong and honorable. He would protect her and love her. Unlike her da and brother, he would never beat her, or push her aside. She and her knight would have many bairns that she would love and never let anyone harm them.

Then her brother married her off to Avery Gordon and that ended any idea of a happy life.

Was Craig her knight on a white horse?

Nay, his horse was deep brown.

She realized Helena had been speaking to her and Lorena hadn't heard a word she's said after mentioning the two young mothers. Nodding at the woman, Helena continued with what supplies they needed to gather.

Like the day before, Lorena trailed behind Helena, watching what she gathered—the perfect healer explaining everything in her soft, soothing way. Lorena was tempted to pinch the woman to see if she ever raised her voice.

That's not very nice.

I wouldn't really do it!

I think.

"I shall ask the stable boy to prepare a wagon for us because we do have a lot of supplies to bring with us." Helena looked at Lorena. "Do you wish to change yer dress? If no', I can find an apron to put over it. I hate to see ye ruin such a wonderful surcoat."

"I doona have anything else to change into, perhaps I could make use of an apron."

"Of certe. If ye follow me I can get one for ye."

Helena led her to the back of the kitchen to a small closet where several aprons hung on hooks. She pulled one out and handed it to her. "This should do nicely."

"If ye will go to the stables and ask the lad to fix up a wagon for us, I will carry the supplies down to the front of the keep."

Lorena headed to the stables where a young lad was brushing one of the horses. He looked up as she approached. He removed his cap and nodded. "Good morn, my lady. How may I help ye?"

He was older than she thought once she got close to him. "My name is Lady Lorena, Mister Craig's wife."

"Aye, I ken. I am Finlay MacKay. I saw ye the day ye arrived. I told my brothers that Mister Craig got him a bonnie wife."

To her amazement, Lorena blushed. She wasn't used to compliments and felt as silly as a young lass. "Thank ye, Finlay. I've come to ask ye to ready a wagon for myself and Lady MacKay."

"Aye. Off to do some healing?"

She nodded. Finlay was a pleasant young man and she found herself smiling as he walked around the back of the stable and holding the two wide poles that would attach to the horse.

As he worked, Finlay talked about the lass he was courting and how they planned to marry in a few months. "She's a bonnie lass, is Elsie. Nice and plump so she will bear many bairns."

There was that word again. Everyone seemed to be talking about bairns today. "Do ye like bairns, then Finlay?"

He stopped before going back to the stable for a pony and pushed his hat back grinning. "Aye. Lots of strapping sons to help me on the farm I'm almost ready to buy."

"What if ye have daughters? Will ye be disappointed?"

"Nay. Plump, pretty lasses to spoil and take care of me in my old age."

What a different attitude than the one she'd been exposed to. He actually wanted bairns and looked forward to having many. She placed her hand on her middle. Mayhap there was already a bairn growing inside her. She warmed at the thought.

"Here ye are, Lady Lorena." Finlay walked the pony and cart up to her. "If ye need help loading yer supplies onto the cart, just let me know."

She thanked him and returned to the kitchen where Helena was putting medicants into a short barrel. "Is the cart ready, then?"

"Aye. Finlay has it ready for us."

Helena smiled as she picked up the barrel. "Finlay is such a nice lad. Verra much in love with young Elsie."

Lorena picked up the pile of clean cloths stacked on the bench where the barrel had been sitting. "Aye, he told me all about her and the many bairns he plans to have with her."

Helena laughed. "With him being young and strapping, I'm thinking he is looking forward more to the making of those bairns."

Lorena tried to stop the blush that rose to her face. Women spoke about those things? Apparently, she had a lot to learn and it appeared her instructor in many things was going to be the woman who replaced her.

Their first stop was at a bothy owned by Michael and his young wife, Ari. The young woman came to the door when she heard them arrive. She had worry written all over her face. "Thank St. Bridget that ye've come. I canno' get the lad to stop crying." Then the lass burst into tears.

Helena walked up to her and patted her on the back. "Now, now, ‘tis no' all bad. We're here to help ye. Is little Rhys having problems sleeping?"

Ari shifted the bairn and accepted the hug Helena gave her. The lad screamed so loud Lorena was certain they heard him in the great hall. Helena took the bairn from the mam's arms and handed him to Lorena.

She gasped and took the bairn, and not knowing what to do, rubbed her hand on his back and rocked him a bit. He looked up at her with big deep blue eyes, tears clinging to his long dark eyelashes and stopped crying. He was warm, soft, and wet. But she didn't care. He was so little, so precious. Tears then filled her eyes.

Aye, she wanted one of these. And Craig had better come back from that assignment soon to help her make one.